His Songs Of Praise, Volume Two

By ElvisNews.com/ Lex, May 28, 2017

Elvis’ “Songs of Praise”, the second volume had to be a bit patient, holiday, being busy after that and server problems delayed this review. Let's see what the Flaming Star/ FTD cooperation brought us this time.

Design

Obviously they listened to my comments on the first volume, since this cover is easier on the eye and not 'messy' like the previous one. Inside it is about the same, not changing what was good already.

Content

Actually I can just repeat what I said on the first volume. Trevor did an amazing job with this project!

The religious songs (and more) are listed from A-Z. The amount of information mr. Simpson grabbed together is amazing. Common things like authors, recording date, location and master take are listed for every song. So far nothing really special, but then the cherries are placed on the cake. Gathering the background information on the songs must have been a real pain, especially on the ancient ones. Listed are history of the authors, who else recorded it, and so on. Of course it is not all essential information, but I for one like to know the background of things like this. I take a deep bow for Trevor Simpson, this research must have taken many, many hours (if not days, months, years).

The pictures in this volume are certainly worth mentioning: a great series of shots from Baltimore (Nov. 71) and August 1970, while visiting Nancy Sinatra's show in Vegas. It may be my memory, but many of them where new to me (advantage of old age?).

The first part of the CD is great listening with the undubbed gospel tracks. The Christmas radio show is not exactly fitting late May with tropical temparatures.

Conclusion

Also the conclusion can only be the same as with the first volume: another treasure from the hand of Trevor Simpson, of which I am happy to have it in my collection. This is one of those books that I will thumb through regularly, finding myself back a couple of hours later.